Lupine plant named ‘WCLMALA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lupine plant named ‘WCLMALA’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; numerous large violet, red purple and yellow-colored flowers arranged on dense terminal racemes; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lupinus hybrid.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WCLMALA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lupine plant, botanically known as Lupinus hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘WCLMALA’.

The new Lupine plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Devon, United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new uniform and freely flowering Lupine plants with large attractive flowers.

The new Lupine plant originated from an open-pollination in June, 2012 of an unnamed selection of Lupinus Russell Hybrids, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Lupinus hybrid as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lupine plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in June, 2012 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Devon, United Kingdom.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lupine plant by in vitro meristem culture in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands since March, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Lupine plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lupine have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘WCLMALA’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘WCLMALA’ as a new and distinct Lupine plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Numerous large violet, red purple and yellow-colored flowers         arranged on dense terminal racemes.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lupine can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Lupine differ from plants of the female parent selection primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lupine are shorter than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Lupine are more vigorous and healthier than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Racemes of plants of the new Lupine are denser than racemes         of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Lupine can be compared to plants of Lupinus hybrid ‘The Pages’, not patented. Plants of the new Lupine differ primarily from plants of ‘The Pages’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lupine are shorter than plants of ‘The         Pages’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lupine are more vigorous and healthier than         plants of ‘The Pages’.     -   3. Racemes of plants of the new Lupine are denser than racemes         of plants of ‘The Pages’.     -   4. Plants of the new Lupine and ‘The Pages’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘The Pages’ have pinkish red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Lupine plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Lupine plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is side perspective view of the basal section of a typical flowering plant of ‘WCLMALA’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical leaf of ‘WCLMALA’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘WCLMALA’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants of the new Lupine grown during the spring and early summer in 19-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Hillegom, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lupine production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 27° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 18° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lupinus hybrid ‘WCLMALA’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Lupinus             Russell Hybrids, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Lupinus             hybrid, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About four to             five days at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five to             six weeks at temperatures about 15° C. to 17° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About seven to             eight weeks at temperatures about 15° C. to 17° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically creamy white to             light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent             on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation.         -   Rooting habit.—Main tap root with low lateral branching;             medium in density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit; moderately             vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 35.5             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 78.8             cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 41.8 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 11.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Texture and luster.—Sparsely to moderately pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color.—Close to 144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, palmately compound with about 13             leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 15.7 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 15.8 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 9.1 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 3.1 cm.         -   Leaf shape.—Palmate, orbicular in outline.         -   Leaflet shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Entire.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             matte.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Moderately             pubescent; matte.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             144A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 143C.             Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to 137B;             venation, close to 144B. Fully expanded leaflets, lower             surface: Close to 191A to 191B; venation, close to 144A.         -   Leaf petioles.—Length: About 16.7 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately             pubescent; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             144A to 144B.         -   Stipules.—Quantity and arrangement: One at the base of the             petiole. Length: About 1.7 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance and arrangement.—Single large             papilionaceous flowers arranged in dense terminal racemes;             freely flowering habit with usually about 200 flowers             developing per inflorescence; flowers face mostly outwardly.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from early             summer into the midsummer in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two weeks on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Strongly fragrant; peppery.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 53.8 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7.9 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.3 cm by 2.4 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Color: Base, close to 145B; proximally, close             to 86C; distally, close to N77B.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Flowers papilionaceous with an             upper standard petal, two lateral (wing) petals and a lower             keel petal. Length: Upper standard petal: About 2.1 cm.             Lateral petals: About 2.1 cm. Keel: About 1.6 cm. Width:             Upper standard petal: About 2.3 cm. Lateral petals: About             1.4 cm. Keel: About 6 mm. Shape: Upper standard petal:             Orbicular; slightly folded backwards. Lateral petals:             Obovate; curved and concave. Keel: Ovate; curved and folded.             Apex: Upper standard petal: Shallowly emarginate. Lateral             petals: Obtuse. Keel: Caudate. Margin, all petals: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces, all petals:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, when opening, upper surface:             Upper standard petal: Close to 70B; towards the base, close             to 86C; basal blotch, close to 151D. Lateral petals: Close             to N82B. Keel: Close to 150D; apex, close to 203C. Color,             when opening, lower surface: Upper standard petal: Close to             70B; towards the base, close to 86C. Lateral petals: Close             to 83B. Keel: Close to 150D; apex, close to 203C. Color,             fully opened, upper surface: Upper standard petal: Close to             70A; towards the base, close to 86B; basal blotch, close to             12B; with development, ground color becoming closer to N89C             and basal blotch color becoming closer to 153D. Lateral             petals: Close to 83D; with development, color becoming             closer to between N89B and 93B. Keel: Close to 84C; apex,             close to 203C; with development, color becoming closer to             201C. Color, fully opened, lower surface: Upper standard             petal: Close to 70A; towards the base, close to 86B; basal             blotch, close to 22B. Lateral petals: Close to 83B. Keel:             Close to 84C; apex, close to 203C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Two. Length: About 6 mm. Width:             About 4 mm. Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Narrowly acute.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent; slightly glossy.             Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             145B. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146D             tinged with close to N187B to N187C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 52.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 55° from peduncle             axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower: About             ten. Filament length: About 3 mm to 9 mm. Filament color:             Close to 145B and 145D. Anther length: About 0.5 mm to 3 mm.             Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to 24A.             Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 24A.             Gynoecium: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             1.1 cm. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close to 150C             to 150D. Stigma shaped: Club-shaped, fringed. Stigma color:             Close to 157D. Ovary color: Close to 145B to 145C.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development has not been             observed on plants of the new Lupine to date. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lupine have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, high     temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone     5. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lupine have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lupine     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lupine plant named ‘WCLMALA’ as illustrated and described. 